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THE 
GOLDEN GOOSE 

A Mother Goose Play for 
Children 

BY 

ELIZABETH F. GUPTILL 

Author of "Twelve Plays for Children" 




L?*i 



BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 
CHICAGO 






p 



Copyright, 1916, by 
BECKLEY-CAEDY COMPANY 



TMP96-007G54 



4 Or 



DEC 261916 
©CI.D 45901 



CHARACTERS 

Mother Goose 

Miss Muffet 

Bo-Peep 

Jill 

Betty Blue 

Goose Girl 

Fairy 

Jack 

Boy Blue 

Simple Simon 

Old Grimes 

Jack of the Beanstalk 

Tom 

// necessary, Betty Blue may also take the part of 
the Goose Girl, and Tom that of Old Grimes, 
making only eleven characters in all instead of 
thirteen. 

Costumes may be dispensed with, if desired, Boy 
Blue being distinguished by his horn, etc. 

Time of Playing: About twenty minutes. 

13] 



COSTUMES 

Mother Goose — Wears a quilted yellow skirt, a red 
pointed waist, and pannier overskirt, high-heeled black 
shoes with large silver buckles, and red stockings. She 
has a white chemisette, and a tall pointed black hat 
with a red band. 

Miss Muffet — Wears a pink dress, coming to her ankles, 
over which she wears a thin white slip with low, round 
neck and elbow sleeves. Ruffles edge the neck, sleeves, 
and bottom of this slip, which is caught up a little. 
A broad pink sash passes around her, high under her 
arms, and is tied in a large bow behind. She wears a 
full mob cap of the white over pink, edged with a frill. 
A pink ribbon is put around it, with a bow at one side. 
Low shoes and white stockings; also, long black mitts. 

Bo-Peep — Wears a quilted blue skirt, with a waist and 
overskirt of flowered blue. It has a low, square neck 
edged with a narrow frill, and frilled elbow sleeves. 
The overskirt is looped up with bows of blue ribbon. 
On her head is a large straw hat, trimmed with 
forget-me-nots, and tied down, gypsy fashion, with 
blue ribbons. She carries a crook covered with silver 
paper, a large blue bow tied just below the crooked part. 

Jill — Wears a gingham dress and a print apron trimmed 
with ruffles. This has ties behind, which are untied. 
She wears a sunbonnet, hanging on her neck, and 
should be barefoot. Part of the time she takes off the 
sunbonnet and swings it by the strings. 

Betty Blue — Wears a blue Empire dress, blue stockings, 
and low shoes. A blue ribbon passes around the very 
short waist and is tied at left side of front in four short 
loops and long ends. Large hat, shirred, with broad ties. 

[5] 



The Goose Girl — Wears a red dress, a white kerchief, 
and a print apron. Her hat is a pointed one of straw, 
with a red band. She carries a long switch. 

The Fairy — Has a short white skirt, made very full, and 
several starched petticoats beneath it, to make it stand 
out. The waist has a point in front, and has a low, 
round neck and short sleeves. Her shoes and stockings 
are white. Her hair should be long, light, and wavy, 
and held back by a band of silver tinsel with a star 
above the forehead. She carries a slender wand, tipped 
with a star. She should be smaller than the others. 

Jack — 'Wears a shirt and overalls, and is barefoot. His 
overalls are rolled up, and he has a battered straw hat 
on the back of his head. 

Boy Blue — 'Wears a suit of blue. This may be a Russian 
suit, or a sailor suit, according to the age of the boy. 
He wears a leather belt, to which his horn is fastened 
by a cord ; also large haymaker's hat with a blue band. 

Simple Simon — Wears a carter's smock frock of brown or 
linen color, and a small felt hat, in which is stuck a 
chicken feather. 

Old Grimes — Wears a very long old dark blue coat, with a 
row of brass buttons extending down the entire front. 
He wears an old-fashioned cocked hat. 

Jack of the Beanstalk — Wears a costume of red and 
black. The doublet is black, close-fitting, and laced 
behind with red. The full, short trunks are of red 
and black, striped. He wears long leggings to meet the 
trunks, of black or tan cloth or leather. He has a 
sword and belt, and a red hat with a long black plume. 

Tom — Wears a brown Greenaway suit, with long trousers, 
buttoned over a short, tight waist, a frill collar, and 
small round hat. 

The Hen and The Goose — Are made of cloth, stuffed 
with cotton. One of each is sufficient. 

[6] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

SCENE I 

Mother Goose's Home. This is a frame covered 
with paper, painted to represent a book. 
"Mother Goose" is painted upon the door, 
which is in the center. A couple of windows 
should be painted on. There should be a 
wooden doorstep. Tied to the doorknob is a 
long black streamer and two long feathers, 
crossed. Little Miss Muffet sits on the door- 
step, crying into her apron. Her spoon is in 
her lap, and her bowl is on the ground, upside 
down. 

[Enter Bo-Peep.] 
bo-peep 

Why, what is the matter now, little Miss Muffet? 
What makes you sit down there and cry? 
It can't be a spider this time, I am sure, 
For there do n't seem to be any nigh. 

[Notices door.] 

Why, what does that mean? Is it crape on the 

doorknob? 
Who's dead? Not our mother! 

[7] 



Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

MISS MUFFET 
[Sobbing.] 
The Goose. 

She swallowed a fishbone. It stuck in her crop, 
And medicine was of no use. 

BO-PEEP 

The Goose? Why dear me, now! Oh, where is 

my kerchief? 
I know I am going to cry. 

Come, let 's cry together now, all nice and cosy. 
Oh, why did our poor goosie die? 

[She sits down beside Miss Muffet and both cry 
together.] 

[Enter Jack and Jill.] 

JACK 

Now what in the world is the cause of this crying? 

BO-PEEP 

She 's dead. 

JACK 
Oh, she is? Well, who's she? 

MISS MUFFET 

The Goose. 

JILL 

Just the Goose? Well, who cares if she is dead? 
[8] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I 

BO-PEEP 
[Looking up.] 
Why, you're as horrid as ever can be. 

JACK 

[Sings. Jill joins in."] 

Tell Aunt Abbie, tell Aunt Abbie, 

Tell Aunt Abbie, the old gray goose is dead. 

[Boy Blue enters.] 
[Joins song.] 

One she was saving, one she was saving, 
One she was saving, to make a feather bed. 

[Simple Simon enters.] 
[Joins song.] 

She died easy, she died easy, 
She died easy, in the shed. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

[Noticing door.] 
Is some one dead, really, though? 

JILL 
Only the Goose. 

BOY BLUE 

And what was the matter with her? 

[9] 



Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

BO-PEEP 

She swallowed a fishbone. 

MISS MUFFET 

It stuck in her crop. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Well, the thing did n't get very fur. 
Why didn't ma call Doctor Foster? 

MISS MUFFET 

She did; but he couldn't do one bit of good. 
Though he operated, she didn't survive. 

JACK 

I shouldn't suppose that she would. 

MISS MUFFET 

Well, he gave her two cupfuls of good castor oil; 

And almost a hundred blue pills, 

And a strong mustard plaster all over her crop — 

JILL 

Oh, dear, what a jumble of ills! 

BOY BLUE 

Thought he operated? 

[10] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I 

MISS MUFFET 

He did, later on, 

But the silly thing wouldn't keep still; 

And when he was giving her ether to smell, 

She drank it all up with her bill. 

And now she is dead. 

BO-PEEP 

[Crying again. ] 
Yes, oh dear, and oh dear! 

JILL 

And just see the crape on the door. 

BOY BLUE 

S'pose mother feels bad, but — well — old Mrs. Goose 
Can't tell on this kid any more. 

JILL 

She was an old tattle-tale, every one knows. 

I do n't see why you girls should cry. 
I 'm going to thank Doctor Foster, myself, 

For helping that old bird to die. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Is she dead? Are you sure? 



Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

BO-PEEP 

Why, of course we are, Si. 

She 's as dead as an old goose can be. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Then I 'm going to get me a whole cherry pie, 
If you're sure she can't tell ma on me. 

JACK 

Three cheers for the doctor. Old Foster's all 
right. 

ALL THE BOYS and JILL 

Hurrah, and hurrah, and hurrah ! 
[Door opens suddenly. Mother Goose comes 
out. Boys start to run.] 

MOTHER GOOSE 

Come back here, this instant now, you noisy boys; 
Come back, and let's see who you are. 
[They come back, slowly. ~\ 

Now, what were you making all this noise about? 
Don't you see there is crape on the door? 
Have you no more heart than to holler that way 
When our dear old gray goose is no more? 

JILL 

That's why we were cheering; because we were 
glad. 

[12] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I 

SIMPLE SIMON 

She can't tell on us any more. 

JACK 

She was an old tattle-tale, mother, you know. 

BOY BLUE 

Yes, really, that bird was a bore. 

MOTHER GOOSE 

And you 're glad she is dead? Glad my old pet is 

gone ? 
Why, children, how heartless are you ! 

JILL 

[Sulkily.] 
Well, she told when we quarreled, and told when 
we shirked. 

MOTHER GOOSE 

Well, she's dead, and oh, what shall I do? 
[Mother Goose sits down on doorstep and be- 
gins to cry.] 

miss muffet 
I 'm sorry, dear mother, the old goose is gone, 
Though she did call me "Fraid Cat," and such. 

BO-PEEP 

And T 'm sorry as well, though she would wake 
me up. 

[13] 



Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

BOY BLUE 

She never would let me snooze much. 

MOTHER GOOSE 

Oh dear, and oh dear, my beloved gray goose ! 

Without her my heart is so sore. 

Run away now and play, you hard-hearted young 

things; 
But don't you dare cheer any more. 

[Boys and Jill step of a little way. Mother 
Goose cries. .] 

She followed me around, and she ate from my hand. 
Without her I 'm lost as can be ; 
Without her, I 'm sure, I do n't know what to do, 
For she always seemed human to me. 

[Goes back into house, crying. .] 

JACK 

No accounting for tastes. Why, she really feels bad. 

I 'm sorry for ma, I declare. 

Let's get her another, a better one, too. 

BOY BLUE 

Why, yes, so we will, Jack, but where? 

JACK 

Oh, we '11 hunt till we find one. There must be a 
lot. 

[14] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I 

MISS MUFFET 

That can't talk? 

JILL 
And won't tell any tales? 

BO-PEEP 

And will lay a big egg every day of her life? 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Gee. I bet they're as scarce as pink whales. 

JACK 

Well, after the funeral let us all go 

And find a nice bird for a pet. 

We '11 just travel on till we come across one. 

Will you all go and help me? 

SIMPLE SIMON 

You bet. 

BO-PEEP 

Let's go find some flowers to make her look nice. 

JILL 

She never looked pretty before. 

Though I 'm sorry that mother is sorry, of course, 

Still, I'm glad that old bird is no more. 

[15] 



Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

BOY BLUE 

Let 's not wait for the funeral. Let us go now. 
We'll search all the rest of the day. 

JILL 

If we find her a new one, then mother, of course, 
Won't mind laying the old one away. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

But which way shall we go? To the east or the 
west? 

JILL 

You say, Jack. We will go where you will. 

JACK 

Why, I'm sure I don't know — but stay — I've a 

good plan. 
Though / do n't know, I do know who will. 

JILL 
Who, Jack; who will know? 

BOY BLUE 
Yes, who is it, old chap? 

JACK 

Let's ask the old owl in the tree. 
He '11 be cross if we wake him up now, I suppose, 
But he's wise as an old owl can be. 
[16] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Gee whiz! We will find one, sure, if we ask him, 

Though mother did say, t' other day, 

That he was n't as wise as her goose, she was sure. 

JILL 

Come on, then. Let's hurry away. 
[All pass out.] 

[Curtain.] 



[17] 



SCENE II 

An outdoor scene. The entrance to a wood. A 
rustic gate leads into the wood. Before this 
gate is a large open place,- which occupies most 
of the platform. A few small trees are so 
arranged that a winding path can be made 
among them, leading to the gate. If this is not 
practicable, it may be dispensed with, but the 
characters, with the exception of the children of 
Mother Goose, who were shown in Scene I, 
must enter through this gate. 

[Enter Children.] 

BOY BLUE 

[Looking all around him.] 

Yes, this is the place where she said we must wait. 
This is Hazelnut Wood and, see, here is the gate. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

That stupid old owl would n't wake up at all. 
He was lazy as lazy could be. 

JILL 

If we had wakened him up, don't believe he'd 
have known. 

[ Takes off sunbonnet and swings it by the strings.] 

[18] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

SIMPLE SIMON 

No, I think he's as stupid as me. 

BOY BLUE 

Oh, he couldn't be, Si. 

Why, the very idea ! There is no one as stupid as 

you, 
Not even a hop-toad. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Now, do n't be so smart ! 

There is no one, I s'pose, wise as you. 

MISS MUFFET 

Don't quarrel. Let's rest while we wait for the 

goose. 
I 'm afraid it is awfully late, 
And I 'm tired as ever a small girl can be. 

JILL 

[Throwing herself down.] 
Well, suppose we sit down while we wait. 

JACK 
[Taking a piece of paper from his pocket.] 
Now, who do you s'pose threw this note down to 
us? 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Perhaps it just fell from a tree. 
[19] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

MISS MUFFET 
But it did n't grow there. Do n't be silly, now, Si ! 

BO-PEEP 

It's as funny as funny can be. 

BOY BLUE 

We were standing right there, looking up at the tree, 
And trying to wake that old owl — 

JILL 

The idea of any one calling him wise, 
That most disagreeable fowl ! 

JACK 

And this fluttered right down, just a little way off, 
And I picked it right up, and it said — 

BO-PEEP 

And we heard that wee noise, as of fluttering wings, 
And a silvery laugh overhead. 

MISS MUFFET 

Now, was it a fairy? 

BOY BLUE 

Or was it a bird? 

[20] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

JACK 

Well, that is the question, you see. 

If any one knows, he can just speak right up, 

For I 'm sure the whole thing puzzles me. 

JILL 

Just read it again, Jack. Just what does it say? 

JACK 
[Reading.] 

"Dear children: It is of no use 

To wake the old owl. I can tell what you want. 

You are seeking the fair golden goose. 

Oh, a wonderful bird is the one that you seek. 

She is wise, and she's handsome and good. 

If you 'd see her to-day, go and wait by the gate 

At the entrance to Hazelnut Wood." 

JILL 

And so we just came. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Yes, and here we be now. 

BOY BLUE 

And here 's somebody coming. Look there. 

MISS MUFFET 

It's a man. 

[21] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

SIMPLE SIMON 

And a hen. 

JILL 

Now, who can that chap be? 
[Old Grimes, who has been coming down the 
path, and has just reached the gate.~\ 

OLD GRIMES 

Here are six little folks, I declare. 
\He conies through the gate, and advances to th^ 
group.] 

Good afternoon, children. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Now, who may you be? I'm sure we don't know 

who you be. 
We 're looking for some one to come through the 

gate, I wonder if you can be he. 

OLD GRIMES 

Just look at my coat, Si, with buttons so bright, 
I am sure you have seen me before. 

JILL 

[Sings. 2 

"Old Grimes, he wore an old blue coat, 
All buttoned down before." 

[22] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

CHILDREN 

[All sing.] 

"All buttoned, buttoned, buttoned, buttoned, 
All buttoned down before. 
He used to wear an old blue coat, 
All buttoned down before." 

OLD GRIMES 

Oh yes, that 's me. I thought you 'd know 
This old blue coat of mine. 
It's getting quite old-fashioned, now, 
But it fits, and feels quite fine. 

BOY BLUE 

How does it happen you are here? I thought you 

blew away 
When came the north wind from the south, while 

you were drinking whey. 

CHILDREN 

[All sing.~\ 

"And blew, and blew, and blew, and blew, 
And blew Old Grimes away. 
There came a north wind from the south, 
And blew Old Grimes away." 

OLD GRIMES 

Oh, when the wind changed, I blew back. 
'T was easy as could be. 

[23] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

I hear you 're looking for a goose. 
Now, won't you trade with me? 

JACK 

But you 've no goose. That fowl 's a hen. 

OLD GRIMES 

She's smart as she can be. 
She always lays two eggs a day, 
And Sundays she lays three. 

CHILDREN 

[//// sing.~\ 

"And Sundays, Sundays, Sundays, Sundays, 
Sundays she lays three; 
She used to lay two eggs a day, 
And Sundays she laid three." 

OLD GRIMES 
[Petting hen.] 

Yes, here she is, the best old bird! 
She's handsome, you'll allow. 
I Ve plenty of her chicks at home. 
What do you offer, now? 

SIMPLE SIMON 

But it 's a goose, you see, we want, for ours up and 

died; 
She got a fishbone in her neck; and ma feels bad. 

She cried. 

[24] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

OLD GRIMES 

She 'd like my hen, I 'm very sure. 

JACK 

No. 'T is n't any use 

To try to make a trade with us because we want a 
goose. 

OLD GRIMES 

I '11 sell her to you very cheap. I want some money 

bad. 
Wife wants a new spring bonnet. What will you 

give, my lad? 

CHILDREN 

[All together.] 

No, no. It is a goose we want. A goose it's 
got to be. 

OLD GRIMES 

Well, well, old Speckle, we '11 go on. 

[Passes on, past the children, and out of sight.] 

JILL 

Here comes another. See? 
[Enter Goose Girl, zvith a goose under her left 
arm and a long switch in her right hand.] 

SIMPLE SIMON 

You 've got a goose. 

[25] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

GOOSE GIRL 

Of course I have. Why should n't I have one, pray? 
I Ve a whole flock of them back there. 
[Points off to one side.~\ 
This bad one ran away. 

[Shakes goose a little, and cuffs it gently. .] 

SIMPLE SIMON 

A bad one? Gee! That 's what we want. 

Ours was so dreadful good 
She told ma on us all the time. 

JILL 

[Looking at goose.~\ 
I wonder if she would? 

GOOSE GIRL 

Of course she wouldn't. Geese can't talk. 

MISS MUFFET 

Ours could; but now she's dead. 
GOOSE GIRL 

Indeed. And was that why she died? 
Her smartness go to her head? 

BO-PEEP 

No, 't was a fishbone in her crop. About your other 

geese, 
Where is your flock? 

[26] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

GOOSE GIRL 

[Pointing.] 

Off there a ways. It's just a little piece. 

BOY BLUE 

Can any of them talk at all? 

GOOSE GIRL 

Of course they can't; but then, 

I shouldn't think you 'd want her to, for she might 

tattle then. 
I never tried to teach them to. Perhaps you could, 

you know. 
Just come along and see them. They 're all as white 

as snow. 

BO-PEEP 

Our goose was gray. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

But she 's all dead. 

BOY BLUE 

Have you a golden goose? 

GOOSE GIRL 

Of course not. Come along, old Sal. To talk 
with them 's no use. 

[Passes on, stroking! goose.~\ 

[27] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

SIMPLE SIMON 

She needn't got so huffy. 

MISS MUFFET 

Oh dear, what is the use of waiting such an awful 

while? 
We '11 never find a goose. 

JACK 

But if the note is true, you know. 

BOY BLUE 

But is it? That's the thing. 

BO-PEEP 

I think it is. 

JILL 
And so do I. 

JACK 

It has the real ring. 

MISS MUFFET 

A golden goose. Ma must be pleased if we 



should bring her that. 



SIMPLE SIMON 



You s'pose she'll lay two eggs a day? Old 
Grimes's hen did that. 

[28] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

JILL 

Here comes a boy. 

JACK 

He's got a hen. They're plenty, seems to me. 
Of course he wants to trade her. Who can the 
fellow be? 
[Jack of the Beanstalk steps through the gate 
and speaks. ~\ 

JACK OF THE BEANSTALK 

Good afternoon, young ladies and gentlemen. 
I hear you want to buy a goose. 

boy blue 
[Pointing to hen.] 

Is that a goose, I pray? 

JACK OF THE BEANSTALK 

Well, not exactly. That 's a hen. Now, did n't you 
know that? 

She's better, though, than any goose. She's hand- 
some, wise, and fat. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

And who be you, young feller? How very pert 
you be. 

[29] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

JACK OF THE BEANSTALK 

I 'm Jack, who climbed the beanstalk. You must 

have heard of me. 
I cut it down one day, you know, to make the giant 

fall. 
He struck quite hard; it broke his neck, beside our 

garden wall. 
I have his harp, his money, bags, his treasures, and 

his hen. 

JILL 

Is that the one you 're carrying? 

JACK OF THE BEANSTALK 

You bet it isn't, then; 

But it's one of her chickens. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Can it lay a golden egg? 

JACK OF THE BEANSTALK 

I rather guess it can, sir. What will you give, I 
beg? 

BOY BLUE 

What will you take? 

JACK 

Yes, what's the price? 

[30] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

JACK OF THE BEANSTALK 

What do you offer me? 

MISS MUFFET 

And will she lay two eggs a day, and Sundays lay 
us three? 

JACK OF THE BEANSTALK 

No, Old Grimes keeps that breed of hens. Mine 

lays but one a day, 
But that's of gold; a richer egg than any his can lay. 
You'll never get a better chance to trade. You'd 

better buy. 
They 're the best hens on the market, and geese are 

dreadful high. 

BO-PEEP 

But 't is a goose we want, sir. Our old gray goose 

is dead. 
We 're waiting for the golden goose. 

JACK OF THE BEANSTALK 

Oh, trade now. Come ahead. 

JACK 

We have n't cash enough for both. We '11 trade 
some other day. 

[31] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

JACK OF THE BEANSTALK 
[To hen.] 

Well, come along, my beauty. We must hurry 
on our way. 

[He passes on. Tom comes in sight. ] 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Here comes a boy what's got a goose. Now 
sir, who may you be? 

TOM 
[Coming through gate.] 

My name is Tom. Don't bother me. I must 
be on my way. 

BOY BLUE 
But that's a goose you're carrying. 

TOM 

[Sarcastically.] 

You do n't say. Is it now? 

Who ever would have thought it? I thought it was 
a cow. 

JACK 

Now do n't you get too funny. Do you want to 
sell your goose? 

[.32] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

TOM 

Well, no, I don't. You can't buy her. To ask 
it is no use. 

BO-PEEP 

We want to buy a goose, sir. Our old gray goose 
is dead. 

TOM 

That so? I didn't kill her. You can't have mine, 

instead. 
She '11 be a dead goose soon, though. I have a plan, 

you see; 
And when I've killed this tough old bird, a rich lad 

I will be. 

BOY BLUE 

How 's that, I 'd like to know, sir? 

JILL 

Will you be rich to-day? 

TOM 

Yes, as quick as I have killed her. She lays an egg 

each day 
Of purest gold; and so, you see, I '11 get it all at once 
In a great big lump, and I '11 be rich. 

[33] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

JILL 

Oh, what a little dunce! 

If you kill her, you'll have nothing instead of one 

a day. 
You 'd better sell her to us. We 'd keep her, anyway. 

TOM 

I guess no one will keep her. She's going to lose 

her head. 
I '11 be as rich as Midas when this old bird is dead. 
I must hurry up and find an axe, and, then, hurrah 

for me ! 
I '11 go up to the city and cut a dash, you see. 
[Tom passes on.~\ 

JILL 

Now, wasn't he a foolish boy? 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Was that the golden goose? 

JACK 

I really do believe it was; but 't wasn't any use 
To argue with that fellow. He didn't know a thing. 

MISS MUFFET 

That goose was white; not even a gold feather in 
its wing. 

[34] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene JI 

JACK 

I believe it was the one, though. It laid a golden 
egg- 

JILL 

And is an egg a goose, Jack? Just answer that, 
I beg. 

BO-PEEP 

It might be some times, surely. Here 's another one. 

Oh dear. 
It's just another white one. Now why is that one 
here? 
[Betty Blue comes through gate, with a goose 
under her arm.~\ 

MISS MUFFET 

Why, Betty Blue, where have you been? Is that 
a goose you've found? 

BETTY BLUE 

It's only Goosey Gander. He's been running all 

around. 
Up the stairs, and down the stairs, as usual, you 

know; 
And in my lady's chamber, where he 's always bound 

to go. 

[35] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

JILL 

And did you know the goose was dead? 

BETTY BLUE 

No! Is she? I don't care. 

I wish that Goosey Gander 'd die next time he saw a 

stair. 
I 'm tired chasing that old thing. I 'm just a-going 

to go 
And chain him with an ox chain; then he'll have to 

stay, I know. 

[She passes on.~\ 

• BOY BLUE 

Let's give it up! I'm tired, and it isn't any use. 
I think the whole thing was a sell. There is no 
golden goose. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

And I be awful hungry. I could eat a tiger, raw. 

JACK 

I guess he'd do the eating, and you'd be in his 
maw. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Well, anyhow, I 'm going home. Why, here comes 
Betty, back. 

[Betty hurries back, without Goosey Gander.~\ 
[36] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

JACK 

What is the news, Miss Betty? 

BETTY BLUE 

You couldn't guess, Sir Jack. 

The goose was not dead after all; she really has 

come to, 
And is eating on the doorstep. She's just as good 

as new. 
And mother's glad as she can be. She's busy as 

can be 
Getting up a celebration. There '11 be lots of things 

for tea. 
I saw her making frosted cake, and ice cream; and 

oh my. 
For every single one of us she 's made a cherry pie. 
She's invited Dr. Foster. I met him on the way, 
And he had a bag of peanuts. 

SIMPLE SIMON 

Hurray, hurray, hurray ! 

BETTY BLUE 

And mother says, come home to tea ; there '11 be a 

celebration, 
Because her goose is still alive, the finest in the 

nation. 

[37] 



Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE 

BOY BLUE 

Well, I 'm glad we did n't make a trade. What would 

the old goose say 
If we brought home another one to take her place 

to-day? 

JILL 

I 'd like to know who dropped that note about the 

golden goose. 
We tried so hard to buy her, but 't was n't any use. 
[The Fairy suddenly appears, having come 
swiftly along the path while they listened to 
Betty Blue.] 

fairy 

I dropped it, little maiden, as I was flying by. 
You wished to help your mother, so I thought that 
you might try. 

JILL 

But we did n't help her any, so 't was n't any use. 

FAIRY 

Yes, you learned a needed lesson while hunting for a 

goose. 
In thinking of your mother, yourselves you quite 

forgot, 
And, though you didn't know it, the golden goose 

was caught. 

t3«] 



THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II 

The goose your mother cared for was to her the 

golden goose; 
Though you 'd brought her fifty others, she 'd have 

found them of no use. 
But the love that tried to please her, to her is better 

far 
Than all the golden eggs or geese in many kingdoms 

are. 
And I Ye a fairy secret that I will tell to you, 
How to keep the Goose from tattling. 

JILL 
Oh, tell us, Fairy, do. 

FAIRY 

Just be sure, when mother's out of sight, that all the 

things you do, 
Are those you Ye willing she should know; then the 

Goose won't tell on you, 
And you shall all be very happy. Now run along to 

tea, 
For there you '11 find the Golden Goose, your own 

old goose, you see. 

[Curtain.] 



[39] 



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